"I didn't even feel myself get there," Rogers said of his trip to the mound. "I think I just appeared on the mound is what it felt like in my mind. I didn't feel anything. As the inning went on and the more pitches I threw, the more I was able to feel myself breathing. I slowed down and my mind slowed down, as well."

Rogers, with his mom and dad in the stands, allowed a single between recording a groundout and popout in the ninth inning.

"After the first pitch, it felt real," Rogers said. "That's when it really hit me. I was just trying to get loose and get ready, and calm myself down, and not give up any runs, really. I just wanted to do well, and once I threw that first pitch, I got really excited and felt like I couldn't breathe."

An 11th-round pick in the 2012 Draft, Rogers has been a starter throughout his professional career, but the Twins promoted Rogers on Wednesday after placing closer Glen Perkins on the disabled list.

Manager Paul Molitor said he liked Rogers for his ability to get left-handed hitters out, but he can also pitch longer, if needed.

"You try to picture a little less stressful situation to start," Molitor said. "But it was good to get him in the game. I think he handled it well and threw the ball well, and he was able to get out of there. So it's a good start for him."

The 25-year-old southpaw owns a 3.27 ERA with 407 strikeouts and 135 walks in 525 Minor League innings. He threw two scoreless frames with Triple-A Rochester so far this season.

"You always think about it and you're dreaming and all of that, but it was way cooler than I anticipated," Rogers said.